KENOSHA, WIS.—The Carthage College softball team hosted Carroll University (Wis.) (DH) on Thursday afternoon. The Pioneers, in their first season back in the CCIW, entered Thursday's affair with a four-game win streak. The Lady Reds halted that with 3-1 and 3-2 victories over Carroll, which pushed their win streak to nine games.
 
Thursday's sweep gives Carthage an 18-8, 9-1 CCIW record while the Pioneers fall to 14-12, 5-3 CCIW. The Lady Reds are now tied for first place in the CCIW with Millikin University.
 
Lady Reds 3, Carroll (Wis.) 1
 
Carthage pitcher Katie Herron surrendered one run on six hits, and struck out seven batters in a complete-game victory. She gave up one hit in each the first and second innings before retiring the side in the third frame.
 
Herron's run support began in the bottom of the third inning when Emmily ZInkiewicz and Kristine Herdegen each reached base on a hit by pitch. Darian Pelsor plated them with a three-run home run over the left field fence to give Carthage a 3-0 advantage.
 
The Pioneers tallied a run in the sixth inning, but couldn't generate a comeback as Carthage held onto a 3-1 victory.
 
Pelsor, Hailey Rothstein and Emmily Zinkiewicz each tallied a hit for the Lady Reds.
 
Lady Reds 3, Carroll (Wis.) 2
 
The Pioneers took a 1-0 lead in the third inning before Carthage produced a pair of fourth-inning runs. Vivian Juarez set the tone with a double before she scored on Herdegen's single to tie the game 1-1. Lauren Jones plated Herdegen with a ground-ball single to left field to give the Lady Reds a 2-1 cushion.
 
Carroll tied the game 2-2 in the fourth inning when Anika Graves doubled home Elaine Anderson, who walked.
 
Herdegen, who reached on a fielder's choice, tallied Carthage's game-winning run in the sixth inning off Rothstein's RBI single to center field to make the score 3-2.
 
Amy Goldsmith went the distance on the pitching rubber for the Lady Reds. She surrendered two runs on seven hits, and walked one batter. Juarez went two-for-three with one double at the plate for Carthage.
 
The Lady Reds will return to action on Friday, April 14 when they host Ripon College (DH) at 2:00 p.m.